Google released a hugely important patch for Chrome OS. The post about the patch in question states that it patched "a chain of exploits that gains code execution in guest mode across reboots, delivered via web page." The fact that the person won the top prize in their pwnium project means that the person in question managed to get a working rootkit. There is also mention of needing additional hardening, which may mean a whole class of vulnerabilities are present. One paranoid commentator on another site pointed to "a kernel key version update in the TPM" in the patch as meaning their old signing key having lead to the vulnerability.
One thing is sure, however, once the security embargo ends, that bug report might be a good read.
(Score: 2) by butthurt on Saturday October 01 2016, @02:57PM
I have heard that Chrome OS patches itself automatically. Is that not true?
Chrome is updated automatically every six weeks or so. There are no prompts asking whether or not you would like to install a security fix or a patch or a service pack.
-- https://www.fastcompany.com/1708277/google-chrome-vs-microsoft-windows-browser-battle-escalates-os-war [fastcompany.com]
[...] the latest software updates and security patches would be installed automatically over the Web. Chrome OS devices will be able to detect whether the latest security patches have been installed, Papakipos said, and will even be able to re-image the system while preserving user settings.
-- http://www.infoworld.com/article/2683638/techology-business/google-s-chrome-os--a-web-appliance--not-a-pc.html [infoworld.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 01 2016, @03:03PM
Not if you don't close the browser. I might have it open for days or weeks without closing the damn thing.
(Score: 2) by mrclisdue on Saturday October 01 2016, @03:31PM
as already posted:
reading comprehension fail:
chrome != chrome os
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 01 2016, @03:42PM
"a chain of exploits that gains code execution in guest mode across reboots, delivered via web page."
(Score: 2) by mrclisdue on Saturday October 01 2016, @03:43PM
apologies for previous post, smartphone and thumbs sometimes don't work too well, and it was submitted before I was finished...
I wanted to point out, as someone else has, that the browser is integral to the os, therefore you're correct in that the browser must be closed...
back to the shadows
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 01 2016, @03:55PM
browser is integral to the os
So why hasn't Google been sued by the EU, a la MS?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 01 2016, @04:12PM
They've learned the real lesson from the Microsoft case and have paid the necessary bribes.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 01 2016, @09:14PM
They don't have a monopoly because nobody uses that fucking OS.
(Score: 2) by butthurt on Saturday October 01 2016, @11:45PM
Perhaps I should have quoted at more length:
Chrome is updated automatically every six weeks or so. There are no prompts asking whether or not you would like to install a security fix or a patch or a service pack. When the Chrome OS is on, it is the most up-to-date version, no matter what.